Generosity that makes a lasting difference
You can make a real and lasting difference by including a gift to the Neurological Foundation in your Will. Your support will help to ensure that vital research and advancements can continue – now, and for generations to come.
If you’re thinking about including a gift in your Will
If you’re thinking about including a gift in your Will, or simply want to understand what’s involved, our Gifts in Wills Manager Margie Carter is here to help.
Margie understands this is a deeply personal choice that deserves care, consideration, and the right information. She’s always happy to answer questions and talk things through – there’s no pressure, and conversations are kept completely confidential.
“If you’re considering a gift, I’d be honoured to talk it through with you. It’s easier than you might think, and every gift big or small makes such a difference.”
Or contact Margie directly at margie.carter@neurological.org.nz or by mobile 021 042 8114.
Gifts in Wills Manager Margie Carter
Why include a gift in your Will?
Why include a gift?
Including a gift in your Will is one of the most powerful ways you can support life-changing neurological research here in Aotearoa.
It’s an impactful way to make a lasting difference, and stand alongside dedicated researchers, clinicians, and the Kiwis their work helps.
Quite simply, without these gifts, much of the research funded and many of the breakthroughs achieved already would not have been possible.
Why neurological research?
Neurological conditions affect 1 in 3 New Zealanders, touching lives in ways that are often complex and deeply personal.
Research helps us better understand the brain, improve diagnoses, and develop more effective treatments and care.
Your gift will fund groundbreaking research aimed at finding preventions and cures for neurological conditions. It will also enable vital training for future neurologists and neuroscientists and help educate New Zealanders about the conditions so many of us face.
Why long-term funding matters
Progress in neurological research takes time. Many of the treatments relied on today took years, sometimes decades, to develop.
Including a gift in your Will helps to provide the long-term stability needed to fuel life-changing research. They allow the transformation of discovery into real-world treatments, and ensure important breakthroughs can become cures.
For more than 55 years, these gifts have helped sustain life-changing research across Aotearoa — building knowledge, strengthening expertise, and bringing us closer to better outcomes for people and families affected by neurological conditions.
Including a gift in your Will means being part of this ongoing progress, helping ensure research continues for generations to come.
Turning sorrow into hope
“My hope is that no one else has to endure what we went through – that there will be cures for these diseases. Maybe not in my lifetime, but for the next generation.”
Sue Stewart’s life changed profoundly when her husband Malcolm, a renowned New Zealand rally driver, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2008. Their fast-paced world slowed, and Sue became Malcolm’s carer, supporting him as his illness progressed.
“When you receive the devastating diagnosis, your world stops and your life is changed forever,” Sue reflects.
Through those difficult years, Sue saw firsthand the impact of neurological disease - on Malcolm, and on those who loved him.
Heart-set on making a difference, Sue chose to include a gift in her Will to the Neurological Foundation. She understood the power of research to change lives, and wanted to carry that hope forward - bringing a better future within reach for families across Aotearoa.
Sue and Malcolm Stewart
How it works
Including a gift in your Will is simpler than many people expect. It can be done when you create a new Will, or by making a small update to an existing one.
For answers to some common questions people have asked about, see the FAQ below.
An alternative straightforward way to get started is to write your Will online for free through a platform like EveryWill or Footprint. They’re designed to guide you step by step, with clear and easy-to-follow instructions.
If you choose to include the Neurological Foundation, you can decide what feels right for you to give. It could be a specific amount, a percentage, or what remains after you’ve provided for your loved ones.
Every gift, no matter the size, helps support research that will have a profound impact for years to come.